The Iraqi government stated on Tuesday it would punish security officials in the Baghdad district where Al-Qaeda gunmen luanched a deadly hostage-taking at a church that left scores of worshippers dead. The Iraqi cabinet decided to "form a committee to investigate and punish security personnel responsible for' the Karrada district where Sunday night's attack happened," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement, cited by AFP.

The government would also "treat the wounded, compensate relatives of the dead and finance the repair of the church, which should begin immediately," Dabbagh added.

Also on Tuesday, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered the arrest of the Karrada district's police commander for failing in his duties, state television said. At least 46 hostages died and 60 were injured in the attack, which stunned the Christians all over the world.